How can we say that flooding is because of poor drainage systems when we are unable to do the basics and keep our drains clean?

And to make matters worse, we have farmers who think it is all right to plant crops such as dalo in drains.

Minister for Waterways Mahendra Reddy has been making rounds around the country trying to assess and fix our waterways.

But, does he need to physically go and start telling people to pull dalo plants out of those drains?

No.

Where do you think the rubbish discarded without a thought ends up? In drains and into the sea!

Which brings us to another issue … Fijians use up to 70 million plastic bags annually.

Where do they go? In drains, rivers and seas.

Dredging is not the solution everywhere, but not lit­tering is definitely a good start.

During his visit to Waibogi Settlement, a 45-minute drive from Sigatoka in the Western Division, Mr Red­dy had to direct a farmer to pull out all the dalo plant­ed in a drain which was specifically made to minimise any flooding.

When the drainage system is clogged it affects water flow and makes it stagnant.

This is the reason some areas are heavily flooded during rainy weather.

What about our responsibility to keep our country clean and safeguarding it for our future generations?

In years to come there will be more plastic bags in the ocean compared with fish.

Is this the situation we want to leave for our chil­dren?

Will this be the legacy?

Will we be the generation that ruined it all?

It should not need to be that way.

The Fiji National University (FNU) Labasa Campus has taken the first step to inform and educate the pub­lic on the hazardous side of plastics.

This was after they launched a “Beat plastic pollu­tion” pamphlet in Labasa yesterday.

Government, schools, universities and non-Govern­ment Organisations are doing their part in keeping Fiji clean. Are you?

JYOTI PRATIBHA

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj